1. Significance
Mutagenesis is the induction of a heritable change in an organism’s genetic material. Studies of human cancer have established that a mutagenic event is very likely the initiating factor in some kinds of cancers. Most known carcinogenic chemicals and ionizing radiation also are mutagenic, so demonstration of mutagenic activity suggests that the substance may be carcinogenic. The common association between mutagenic activity and carcinogenicity is the basis for using short-term mutagenesis tests with bacteria or cultured cells to detect potential carcinogens.
Naturally occurring mutagens are ubiquitous in the environment.1 Therefore, the relationship between an environmental sample’s mutagenic activity and its chemical pollutants must be examined very carefully in order to draw conclusions about the source of mutagenic activity.